Lighting Design and Use
Good energy efficient lighting design enhances both the design and the performance of buildings.
-When designing indoor lighting for energy efficiency, you want to consider some basic design principles and methods.
-Remember that more light is not necessarily better. Human visual performance depends on light quality as well as quantity.
-Deliver the appropriate amount of light for the tasks that will be performed in the space, and distribute that light in a way that prevents glare.
-Take advantage of natural daylight whenever possible, while avoiding direct sunlight
-Use energy-efficient lighting components, controls, and systems.
-Install fluorescent light fixtures for all ceiling- and wall-mounted fixtures that will be on for more than 2 hours each day. These often include the fixtures in the kitchen and living room, and sometimes those in bathrooms, halls, bedrooms, and other higher-demand locations.
-Install dedicated compact fluorescent fixtures, rather than compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in incandescent fixtures, so that fluorescent bulbs continue to be used for the life of the house.
-Use CFLs in portable lighting fixtures that are operated for more than 2 hours a day.
-Consider light wall colors to minimize the need for artificial lighting.
-Recessed lighting, although popular, can be a huge source of energy loss in the home.
-Regularly clean light fittings, reflectors and lampshades.
-Millions of Euro of electricity is wasted every year is wasted through leaving lights on in unused rooms, so always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
